FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Albanian football raised the bar for the new season, with many changes, with a lot of uncertainty, but with all the teams aiming at least to participate in the final-four. To analyze this edition, today on the show "Sport News", the former football player and former coach of Tirana, Ardian Mema, was invited.
- We almost thought that you would move to Kosovo, as if you had found the ideal place, or is it a bit difficult to keep Mema away from the capital, away from Tirana....
It was a very good experience in Gjakova. We did good work together, because good work is always done together. I came back for family reasons, so I couldn't continue anymore. In Gjakova they even said that you upset the coach, so he left (laughs), they wanted to justify it, but of course this was not true, I made a status on my Facebook page, where I pointed out that this was not true.
- In fact, many coaches of the capital Mema are being lured from Kosovo, initially Josa, then Ilir Daja, Shpëtim Duro, you, what does Kosovo offer more?
I think that football, and especially the Albanian coaches, are better than those from Kosovo. Even the managers in Kosovo have understood, Albanian coaches can do better than those in Kosovo, without wanting to offend anyone. This type of mentality has been created in Kosovo, as there are also many teams that do not want Albanian coaches. We live in a commercial world where everyone makes their own decisions. Ilir Daja has left a mark and a good name so far, he has opened the way for all other Albanian coaches.
- In this period in Albania, the scheme has changed, now the final-four system is applied, a short comment, are you for or against, do you think it gave the expected effects?
In my opinion it is a big mistake. I work throughout the year and zero out at the end of the championship. Especially Presidents who have invested money in football cannot accept it. You have played 36 matches during the year, especially in the last phase where the rival teams are also shown, and in the end everything comes to zero. I remember, for example, the Champions League match 1 year ago, between City and Inter, Inter could even win the match despite City having better paid players, but anything can happen in a match. I am surprised how the presidents of important clubs such as Partizani or Tirana have accepted this formula. This formula leaves room for abuses, for example last season there was a match that was clearly abused, it was obvious. The teams in the middle of the table that have no claims can make tolerances, so I think there is room for abuse. There are other formulas that could have been applied, such as the one in Belgium, when the championship continues with the points that have been accumulated, not to mention that there is a Play-Off stage at the end, so for these reasons I cannot accept this formula , it's not to my taste.
- Your Tirana has also changed a lot, this season comes without well-known names, without a clear objective, how have you seen Tirana from the outside, how do you think this team?
In principle, I do not agree with the part about a team changing all players. The team must keep the axis and be filled with new players. The new players must adapt to the philosophy of the club. Frequent changes do not bring success. Maybe I'm wrong, we are not prophets. For example, Partizan has not moved many players, it has the base, so this serves to harmonize the players. When almost 80% of the team changes, this creates a problem, because it will take more time for the coach to work with the players to harmonize them with each other.
- There is hope, do you think I can reach at least the final four?
I hope, but I do not know a match has played. They did not play badly with Laçi, but one match is not indicative. The trend will be seen for all teams after the first stage.
-Why Tirana takes one step forward and two steps back in recent years, why it never manages to find the right stability, you have a personal explanation, seen from the outside.
We have this problem as a nation, not only Tirana. Many champion teams, except for Skenderbeu, which has continued in the following years, have had problems with continuity. I see Egnatia and Partizan as contenders for champions this year. I don't know what to say about Tirana because it is a new team. In Albania, they seem to break things by hand. When you become champion, you have the opportunity, due to the financial benefits, as well as the fact that you are morally better, to continue to finance, to make a better team, in order to have continuity for the next 2-3 years to become a champion, as this definitely gives you a financial benefit as well.
- I want a comment about the rest of the capital for Partizan. Do everything to get Shehi, but they left him just before the new season, now they are without a coach, they always have a plan B, the sports director, Abilaliaj, how did you see these moves?
For Shehi, I think that the directors of Partizan saw him with the same eyes that they sent him away. I personally think that the coach should stay at least 1 year, giving him the necessary time. Tirana or Partizan, like any big club, have a lot of expectations, they want results quickly, if things don't go well they leave. When a club has clear projects, the coaches should also be long-term. I don't know about Orges, because I had to be inside the club to understand what happened. I wish him success wherever he goes. We coaches understand very well when bad moments come to us, because of the results. I'm not of the opinion that coaches should sit tight, the technician must understand himself when the moment comes to leave the club, when things don't go well.
-A direct question, would you, Mema, accept an invitation from Partizan?
I played 1 year with Partizan, there were many good players there at that time. To be honest, many people have asked me this question. In many moments I find it difficult to say yes or no. We are coaches, we have to look at things with the eyes of a professional. There is this cat-and-mouse game, which we have become a part of willingly. When I was at Partziani, I was treated with great respect. I worked with Perlat Musta, Sulejman Starova, Shpëtim Duro, with whom we are still friends today, so it is not taboo. I think that the professional side remains the professional side, the fandom is something else entirely.
-With the moves that have been made this season, with the group they have available, who do you see as the favorite?
I see Egnatian and Partizan as favorites. We have been waiting for Dinamo for 3 seasons, but it disappoints at the beginning, I really hope for Tirana too, but I don't know. Even Teuta and Bylisi are not bad. There is a lot of competition, but now is not the time to talk. We only see the part of players who have approached the teams at the moment. The game will appear continuously. For example, Partizan played very well in the first half against Vllaznia, they deserved to win the match, but they lost. You have nothing to do, no one to blame, when you played well, but conceded a goal and lost the game. Such is football.
Lini një Përgjigje